Old School. Biblically Independent.
By Dustin Rowles | News | February 21, 2025
Jiffylush, a longtime commenter (and one of my favorites), left a rant on a piece yesterday that lit a fire under my ass. We talk a lot—both above and below the comment line—about how bad this administration is, the hypocrisy of the Republicans, the ineffectiveness of the Democrats, the media’s failure to hold power to account, Elon Musk’s various children, etc., etc. And as well-intentioned as we all are, sometimes it feels like theater. Like part of what we’re doing, collectively, is triangulating a strategy to win an election next year or four years from now. That strategy involves a mix of shame, fear, rallying, promoting, inspiring, and making space for our hopelessness.
But I’m often moved when one of our readers articulates the real-world consequences of this regime on them or their families—not in some existential way, but in a “this is what is happening to me and my family” kind of way. (An old comment from Steven Wiser resurfaced on the twin’s post last week that kicked my ass, too. And thank you to all the kind souls who donated!) This isn’t just about getting you to click on a piece, read my random thoughts, and share your own before sh**ting on me because someone else on the site trashed Jon Stewart three weeks ago and “Why is Pajiba talking about Jon Stewart?”
Why do we do anything? Because we’re trying to make sense of a world where one of our own is scared for their family’s life. Others are losing their jobs or being harassed in public by newly emboldened bigots. I gotta write what I know to pay the bills—like The Pitt is amazing television, that Sterling K. Brown gets lots of awards but somehow not enough, and that the MeidasTouch brothers are annoying AF — but beyond all that, and whatever political posturing we engage in, I’ve been through some sh**, and I hate to see others go through it too. Our regulars know that BWeaves has been around since the talkies and doesn’t know a damn thing about this new generation of actors, like Cameron Diaz and Jack Black, but if BWeaves is going through something, that matters to me. Same with everyone else.
Earlier today, Hunter Schafer (she’s a trans woman who stars in that HBO show with Zendaya, BWeaves) took to social media because she was forced to change her passport to reflect her sex assigned at birth. I hate that for her. Hunter Schafer is f**king Hunter Schafer! She starred in Cuckoo and held her own against Dan Stevens! She deserves to be recognized the way she wants to be recognized. She earned it. Every trans person deserves it.
Meanwhile, as I wrote this morning, a trash bigot in Maine named Laurel Libby attacked, harassed, and named a high school trans kid competing in girls’ track, basically siccing the entire Fox News outrage machine on her. There are few acts more despicable.
Meanwhile, today Maine Governor Janet Mills met with other governors at the White House. I’m in a social circle with a lot of people (including my wife) who regularly interact with the Governor. I’ve seen her at events, even briefly met her. But I have never been prouder of a governor in a state where I’ve lived (and Bill Clinton used to be my governor in Arkansas) than I was today when Governor Mills stood up to President Trump after he tried to embarrass her from the podium.
Gov. Mills: I’ll comply with the state and federal laws.
Trump: We are the federal law. You better do it because you’re not going to get any federal funds.
Gov. Mills: See you in court.
— Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social) February 21, 2025 at 2:02 PM
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This is going to get ugly. The President has already launched an investigation — because he was clearly pissed and embarrassed — and the Governor has already released a statement. I don’t know where this ends, though I suspect the children of Maine will end up as collateral damage.
But no matter what happens, I’m proud that someone — the Governor of our state, no less — stood up for that high school trans athlete who did absolutely nothing to deserve what happened to her this week. That took courage. Courage that no other governor in that room showed. Courage that no one in the media seems willing to demonstrate. Courage that no elected Republican has expressed in a very long time. I hope we can all stand up for each other the way Governor Mills stood up for that kid.
And not to make this about political posturing, but there’s been speculation that the Governor — who is termed out — may run against Susan Collins next year. She’s got my vote. I know there are a lot of Democrats — and Republicans — who are tired of hearing about Susan Collins’ “concern.” This is Governor Mills’ way of saying, “Shove that concern up your ass.”
